Silence stretched between them.
“I… ah, thanks.”
“For?” He raised a brow, then winced.
“Ah, well for things,” Hope said, unsure where to start.
“Which ‘things’ do you remember?”
“Most of them.”
“I’m guessing by the green tinge to your face that you’re probably suffering enough.”
“I-I didn’t need help anyway.” Hope wished she’d kept those words in her mouth. But he’d always made her react this way, like she was still ten. The need to be defiant rose inside her, just like the need to see those blue eyes cloud with anger had often had her tormenting him.
“Really? So I should have just left you up there on that chair, singing like a scalded cat, with those men yelling, ‘show us your tits’?”
“I could have handled it.”
“How exactly?”
“All right!” she exploded. “I needed help because I was inebriated and out of my depth. Happy now?”
“I’m not sure that happy describes my state of mind, but your apology, if that was what it was, helped a little.”
Hoped stomped to the bed, then wished she’d walked softly as pain vibrated through her skull.
“God, you are an annoying man!”
“Let me get this straight,” he said, lifting a hand as she opened her mouth to continue. “I’m annoying, when it was me who had to fight his way out of that bar, then have you puke your guts up all over me. And let’s not mention the fact that my eye is throbbing like fuck!”
Definitely riled now.Interesting, Hope thought as she tried to dial back her own anger.
“That shirt was tailor-made, as are those pants. You owe me a shitload of money, because they’re ruined.”
“I washed them,” Hope muttered.
“With hotel soap? Are you shitting me?”
His voice was definitely raised now.
“They’re just clothes, Newman. You’re so shallow.”
“I’m shallow because I like to dress nice! Unlike you, who is still going for that grandma-meets-bag-lady look. Which, by the way, you should have grown out of by now.”
“Oooh, sorry, I’ll just nip down to Alexander McQueen and charge up a nice little suit and bag.” Hope used a snooty voice. “I have more important stuff to spend my money on.”
That eye was definitely narrowed now. He climbed off the bed and came toward her, and before she could stop herself she’d stepped back. But he bypassed her and headed to the bathroom. The door slammed behind him.
Damn, her clothes were in there, and she didn’t have the money anymore to replace them, or she’d leave.
When he came out minutes later, his hair was wet, and dressed in jeans and no T-shirt. Hope dragged her eyes from his broad chest. Muscles defined, six-pack front and center.
“You need to take better care of yourself, Newman.” It was sarcasm pure and simple, but at that moment it wasn’t beneath her.
Ignoring her, he asked a question of his own.
“So last night you told me that someone named Jay Herald set you up somehow. You then rambled about his duping you, after using you. Mind clarifying?”
